SHOCK figures have revealed Stockport has had the highest rise in sex attacks across Greater Manchester.

Sexual offences have risen by a massive 33 per cent between April 2003 and April 2004 according to Home Office figures.

Neighbouring Trafford also saw its figures rocket by 28 per cent, while Manchester had a rise of just 10 per cent.

However, Stockport's senior police officers insist the figures need to be taken in context and have stressed new tactics are being employed to ensure the figure decreases.

Det Chf Insp Mark Webster explained: "This rise is misleading as there are a small number of this type of offence committed in Stockport. A rise of this kind will probably only be a handful. A force wide operation, called Operation Nightingale, has been launched. We're employing a multi-agency approach where dedicated officers deal with the victim, which will greatly improve the standard of service. Our detection rates are also good at over 50 per cent. Most crimes have a detection rate of between 10 and 20 per cent."

Assault, or violence against the person, also rose between April 2003 and April 2004, by 13 per cent, meaning Stockport has the joint fourth highest rise in Greater Manchester.

However, other crimes did drop sharply, including robbery, which fell by nine per cent, and burglary, which decreased by six per cent. Theft of a motor vehicle and theft from a motor vehicle also went down, by 13 per cent and seven per cent respectively.

Det Chf Insp Webster said: "Robbery is one of our priority crimes and there is still a small number of them. If we have a spate of robberies we mobilise the available officers on the division. Our detection figures have also been very good over the past few months. We're very pleased with the reductions we have seen."

Two of Stockport's crime reduction projects have also been praised in the British Crime Survey. The scheme introduced at the Cheadle Royal Business Park to target upmarket vehicle thieves has been super-successful. Previously, there were 22 thefts a month and that has been reduced to just 11 in the whole of 2004.

Measures to reduce thefts include CCTV, better landscaping and signs, and a close cooperation on crime and security issues by those who share the site.

Stockport's Thinksafe Drinksafe campaign was also highlighted in the survey. The project aims to tackle alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour. It targets the sale of alcohol to under-age drinkers by using undercover shoppers and take a hard line with those who break the law.

It also plans to work with the business community to change the drinking culture of the town centre, starting with a ban on drinking in public places.